Azerbaijan issued a denial on Monday of recent accusations by Tehran of an “Israeli presence” on the country’s border with Iran.
The statement comes amid regional tensions and a major military exercise launched by Iran on the Azerbaijan border, accompanied by its claims that Israeli military or intelligence operations in the area.
On Oct. 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced that “we do not tolerate the presence and activity against our national security of the Zionist regime, or Israel, next to our borders,” reported AFP.
The threats in recent days came with a statement by Iranian Ground Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heidari, who said on Iranian state TV: “We respect good neighborly relations but we do not tolerate the presence of Zionist regime elements and Islamic State terrorists in the region.”
Iran’s military exercise, which began on Friday, includes the use of artillery, drones and helicopters.